Three years after fall of Gotabaya; waiting for justice

14 July marks the third anniversary of one of the most momentous uprisings in Sri Lankan history—the people’s toppling of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The dramatic scenes of protestors storming the presidential palace, fuelled by economic devastation and political betrayal, were not merely acts of desperation. They were declarations of collective power.

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For a brief moment, our country shook off decades of impunity, corruption, and authoritarianism. The Aragalaya, an organic, people-led movement—gave voice to a generation long denied dignity, justice, and accountability.

Yet, in the months that followed, that collective hope was undermined. Through cynical political manoeuvring, Ranil Wickremesinghe, once rejected by the people, was installed as President by the remnants of the very regime the people had risen against. It was a betrayal, plain and simple. The institutions and individuals responsible for plunging the country into ruin remained untouched. Corruption flourished anew under the guise of stability, and justice remained elusive.